Hinrich draws difficult duties on 'D'

Veteran says he still can handle league's elite point guards

CLEVELAND — Five years have passed since Kirk Hinrich earned second-team All-Defensive honors for the Bulls.

Entering his 10th season, Hinrich will draw countless difficult assignments in a point guard-dominated league, including reigning Rookie of the Year Kyrie Irving on Friday.

Hinrich harassed Irving during his 2-for-15 night in an exhibition and contested almost everything in a strong first quarter Friday before succumbing to foul trouble and sitting out much of the second half in favor of a hot Nate Robinson.

"I can still guard at a high level," Hinrich said. "I'm probably smarter now and know when to be aggressive. I still feel like I'm moving well."

Hinrich, 31, said injuries, not age, slowed him the last two seasons.

"It seems like every night every point guard is good and everybody is different, but my thing is knowing the league as best you can and knowing individual tendencies," he said.

Forward thinking: When Taj Gibson agreed to his four-year extension, plenty of speculation arose that the Bulls would use the amnesty provision on Carlos Boozer next summer. That scenario is unlikely, according to someone familiar with the organization's thinking.

Boozer is in the third season of his five-year, $75 million deal. The Bulls are counting on him to have a big year with Derrick Rose sidelined. If the amnesty provision is used on Boozer, it likely would be in the summer of 2014.

Buzz kill: Perspectives Charter School product and No. 1 pick Anthony Davis left the Hornets' game Friday against the Jazz with a concussion and will miss Saturday's homecoming game against the Bulls.

Davis will remain in New Orleans to undergo further testing Saturday.

Luol Deng faced Davis in the London Olympics and came away impressed.

"He's so active," Deng said.

Layups: The Bulls improved to 19-28 all-time in road openers. … Marco Belinelli played the last two seasons for Hornets coach Monty Williams and called him a tough but fair coach. "He helped my game," Belinelli said. … Rose and Irving never have faced one another in four regular-season meetings of their teams. ... Marquis Teague made his NBA debut, finishing with three assists in three minutes of garbage time.